Stock and trigger mechanism for line thrower

ABSTRACT

A line thrower, of the type firing a blank cartridge to propel a projectile fitting over the end of the gun barrel for carrying the end of a light line, has a rearwardly projecting pistol grip with a spring biased firing pin therethrough. A shoulder stock attachment therefor has a tubular receiver for the launcher pistol grip and a trigger mechanism therein enabling the launcher to be fired with one hand. A tube extending to a shoulder pad slideably contains a two part trigger bolt which is spring biased forward. The bolt front portion has a pendant trigger secured thereto forward of a downwardly projecting hand grip secured to the tube. The rear bolt portion is axially aligned with the front portion but is secured rotatably thereto and has a radially projecting sear pin normally projecting upward through a slot in the tube, the pin end being adapted to engage the forward surface of a nut at the end of the launcher firing pin when it is drawn back. The slot extends angularly to the tube axis so that when the trigger bolt is drawn rearwardly the rear bolt portion is rotated by the sear pin being cammed laterally to release the firing pin firing the launcher.

ilnited States Patent Hill e [451 A r. 18 1972 [54] STOCK AND TRIGGER MECHANISM [57] ABSTRACT FOR LINE THROWER A line thrower, of the type firing a blank cartridge to propel a [72] Inventor: Orrin W. Hill, Turin, N.Y. projectile filtlting over the end of the gun barrel for carrying the end of a lig t line, has a rearwardly projecting pistol grip with 1731 Asslgnee' g g ski'ufl Company watertown a spring biased firing pin therethrough. A shoulder stock attachment therefor has a tubular receiver for the launcher [22] Filed: Aug. 31, 1970 pistol grip and a trigger mechanism therein enabling the launcher to be fired with one hand. A tube extendin to a [211A lNo 68381 8 pp shoulder pad slideably contains a two part trigger bolt which is [52] U.S. Cl. .;..89/l G, 42/1 F, 42/72 spring biased forward. The bolt front portion has a pendant [51] Int.Cl 4 1/ trigger secured thereto forward of a downwardly projecting Field 0f Search 1 1 1-, hand grip secured to the tube. The rear bolt portion is axially 89/ 1 G; 102/89 aligned with the front portion but is secured rotatably thereto 56 R f C d and has a radially pro ecting sear pin normally projecting up- 1 e erences l e ward through a slot in the tube, the pin end being adapted to UNITED STATES PATENTS engage the forward surface of a nut at the end of the launcher firing pin when it is drawn back. The slot extends angularly to i gzg s z the tube axis so that when the trigger bolt is drawn rearwardly 2970'398 2/1961 Crouch /72 X the rear bolt portion is rotated by the sear pin being cammed 35O5926 M1970 G laterally to release the firing pin firmg the launcher.

Primary Examiner-Samuel W. Engle Attorney-Bruns & Jenney 2 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures STOCK AND TRIGGER MECHANISM FOR LINE THROWER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to line throwers and more particularly to a shoulder stock attachment with a built-in trigger mechanism for a line thrower which is normally held in one hand and fired with the other.

Line throwers having a gun barrel and means for firing a blank cartridge have long been available, a projectile fitting telescopically over the end of the barrel having the end of a light line secured thereto for carrying the line for comparativelylong distances. One particular line thrower, which is commercially available, has a pistol grip extending rearwardly from the barrel thereof and has a spring-driven firing pin extending through the grip and terminating in a fingergrip not projecting from the grip. To fire this line thrower it must be gripped and aimed by one hand while the firing pin is grasped by the fingers of the other hand, pulled back and then released to fire'the blank cartridge. 1

ln aquatic rescue work, particularly for use on ships such as the Coast Guard uses, a line thrower is required which is capable of being fired with one hand so as to leave the other hand of the firer free to support him in difficult positions. Such shoulder stock attachments as have heretofore been suggested provide a trigger mechanism rearward ofthe firing pin grip nut. This requires gripping the stock so far to the rear that accurate aiming is difficult.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention contemplates, accordingly, aneconomically fabricated, easily used, attachment which can be quickly secured to a two-hand line thrower to adapt it for firing with one hand. The attachment comprises a shoulder stock having trigger mechanism for firing the line thrower secured thereto while the whole is supported by one hand and the shoulder .against which the stock is engaged. The trigger itself is well forward adjacent the line thrower and a grip is provided so that the supporting hand of the firer is immediately adjacent the line thrower.

A tubular receiver at one end of the attachment receives the pistol grip of the line thrower securely therein and a padded plate at the other end is provided for contact against the firers shoulder. A tube connects the receiver with the shoulder plate and a two-part trigger bolt is spring biased forwardly in the tube. A hand grip is secured to the tube projecting downward below the forward end of the receiver and the trigger is secured to the forward end of the bolt projecting downward form the forward end of the bolt.

The tube has an angularly disposed slot opening upward and sideward to the rear of the receiver.

The rear portion of the boltis axially aligned with the front portion in the tube and is secured to the front portion but rotatable with respect thereto. The bolt rear portion has a sear pin projecting radially therefrom through the slot, the outer end of the pin being adapted to engage a forwardly facing shoulder of the line thrower firing pin grip nut when it is pulled back.

When the sear pin is thus engaged with the firing pin and the trigger is pulled the sear pin is cammed sideward by the slot so as to release the firing pin, firing the line thrower.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view of a shoulder stock attachment according to the invention:

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view thereof partly in section;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are, respectively, front and rear end elevational views thereof;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of a conventional line thrower for use with which the attachment is adapted; and

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of the missile used with the line thrower.

2 DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIGS. 1-4, the attachment 10 comprises a tubular receiver 11 welded or otherwise secured in parallel and above the main body tube 12 of the attachment. Tube 12 has a hand grip tube 13 welded pendant from the front end thereof below the receiver 11 and encased in a plastic grip portion 14 shrunk or otherwise secured therearound.

At its rearward end the tube 12 has secured thereto, by welding or otherwise, a butt plate 15 normal thereto and closing this end of the tube. Another plate 16, having a pad 17 of foamed rubber secured thereto, as by adhesive, is secured by screws 18 to the plate 15. Rearward of the receiver 11 a selected distance, the tube 12 is slotted at 20, the slot opening upward and sideward and being disposed at an angle to the axis of the tube.

The forward end of tube 12 carries a two-part trigger bolt 21 slideable therein. The forward end 21a of the bolt has a trigger at 22 secured pendant thereto, as shown, forward of the hand grip 14. The rear portion 21b of the bolt is secured axially aligned to the front portion 21 by a forwardly projecting stud 23 threaded into an axially bored hole 24 in the portion 21a so that the rear portion is secured to but rotatable with respect to the front portion.

A radially projecting stud or sear pin 25 is secured, as by a drive fit in a bored hole, in the rear portion 21b of the bolt and projects radially through the slot 20. A spring 26 in the tube 12 biased the bolt forward.

When the bolt 21 is in its biased forward position the pin 25 is in the forward end of slot 20 and projects upward short of the axis projected of receiver 11. When bolt 21 is moved rearward the pin 25 follows the slanted slot 20 and is cammed sideward rotating portion 21b with respect to portion 210 of the bolt.

Referring now to FIG. 5 for a better understanding of the operation of the attachment 10, a conventional handheld line thrower 30, with certain improvements, is shown as having a gun barrel 31 fixed to an annular plate 32 to which a tubular plastic guard 33 is secured by screws 34. The barrel 31 is provided with an O-ring 35 adjacent its muzzle end and is chambered at 36 at its breech end for reception of a 22 caliber blank shell.

A breechblock 37 is pivotally secured at one end at 38 to a projecting lug, not shown, on plate 32 and a locking lever 39 pivotally carried at 40 by the other end of block 37 is provided for locking the breechblock in place by means not shown.

Projecting from the breechblock 37, is a hand grip or handle 41 for holding the thrower 30. The end of handle 41 adjacent block 37 may be provided with a cushion 42 of soft material such as foamed plastic for protecting the hand from recoil. Cushion 42 is cut away at 43 for a reason which will appear.

Handle 41 is provided with a rod-like firing pin 44 extending axially therethrough in a suitable bore and a spring 45 in a portion of the firing pin bore biases the firing pin 44 toward the position shown where the end of the pin is in contact with the shell in chamber 36. The other end of firing pin 44 is threaded and projects beyond the handle 41. This projecting end carries two knurled nuts 46 and 46' threadedly secured thereon and the end of firing pin 44 may be swaged over to prevent the removal of the end nut 46 which is adapted to be manually grasped, pulled rearward and released for firing the line thrower. Nut 46 is a safety nut and may be advanced on the threaded firing pin to prevent discharge of the thrower if it is accidentally dropped while loaded.

A cannister 47 of plastic tubing is secured as by adhesive alongside the guard 33. The cannister 47 has an annular top 48 secured thereto, and a bottom removably secured thereto.

The hole in the center of the top 48 is provided for the passage The missile 51 is shown as substantially cylindrical, the outer body 52 thereof being of a hard foamed plastic material bonded to a tubular metal expansion chamber portion 53. The chamber portion is closed at the top and open at the bottom so as to be adapted to fit over the barrel 31 of the thrower. A metal wire loop 54 is secured to the open end of the chamber tube 53, as by silver solder, to provide a convenient anchorage for the end of line 50.

In operation, the stock and trigger mechanism attachment is attached by inserting the handle 41 of the line thrower in the tubular receiver 11 with the trigger 22 in recess 43 of the cushion 42, the thrower being ordinarily fired with cannister 47 below the plastic guard 33 around the barrel. The end of line 50 is then tied to the loop 54 of the missile 51 and the missile is then slid over the barrel 31 of the thrower.

The breechblock 37 is then swung open by moving the lever 39 to the right, as shown in FIG. 5, a .22 caliber blank shell is inserted in the chamber 36 and the block 37 is locked closed. The nut 46 should be advanced on the firing pin 45 before loading.

When preparing to fire, the firing pin 45 is pulled to the rear, while the trigger 22 is also pulled to the rear to bring the sear pin 25 to one side, until the nut 46' is pulled past the pin 25. The trigger 22 is then released and the spring 26 forces the bolt 21 forward until the sear pin 25 is again vertical and at the forward end of slot 20. The nut 46 is then backed off against nut 46 and both nuts are released so that the forward shoulder of the nut 46' is engaged against the sear pin 25.

The firer then places pad 17 against his shoulder, the right one for example, and grasps the grip 14 with has right hand with forefinger around the trigger 22. His left hand is then free to hold on to a railing or stanchion while the gun is aimed and fired with the right hand. When the trigger 22 is pulled to the rear, the sear pin is cammed to one side by the slot 25 and the firing pin 44 is released to strike the shell and fire the launcher.

I claim:

1. In combination, a line thrower having a rearwardly projecting pistol grip and a spring biased firing pin therethrough, terminating in an enlarged finger grip nut at the pistol grip end, the nut being adapted to be manually pulled rearwardly and released to fire the launcher; and a shoulder stock and trigger mechanism comprising: an elongated tube having a hand grip projecting radially downward from the forward end thereof, the tube having a padded shoulder plate secured to the rearward end thereof, a tubular receiver secured in parallel along the top of the tube forward end and adapted to receive the line thrower pistol grip closely therein, a two-part trigger bolt slideable in the tube, a spring biasing the trigger bolt forward the bolt front part having a trigger projecting radially down from the forward end thereof forward of the hand grip, the bolt rear part being axially aligned with and rotatably secured to the front part, the tube having an upwardly and sidewardly opening slot therethrough rearward of the receiver, the slot extending at on angle to the tube axis, the rear bolt part having a sear pin projecting radially therefrom through the slot, the outer end of the sear pin being adapted to engage the forward end of the launcher grip nut when the pistol grip is engaged in the receiver and the firing pin is pulled back and to release the nut when the trigger is pulled back and the sear rod is thereby cammed to one side by the slot; whereby the launcher is adapted to be fired with one hand.

2. A shoulder stock attachment for a line thrower, the line thrower having a gun barrel and a breech adapted to hold a blank cartridge to propel a projectile placed telescopically over the muzzle of the barrel, the thrower having a pistol grip extending rearwardly from the breech, a spring biased firing pin extending axially of the pistol grip and terminating in an enlarged finger grip nut at the pistol grip end, and a cannister for a coil of light line whose end is attached to the projectile; the attachment comprising: an elongated tube terminating at one end in a padded shoulder contacting plate and having a hand grip pendant from its other forward end, a tubular receiver secured in parallel along the top of the forward end of the tube adapted to closely receive the pistol grip, a two-part trigger bolt slidable in the tube, a spring in the tube biasing the bolt forward, the bolt front part having a trigger secured thereto pendantly forward of the hand grip, the bolt rear part being axially aligned with the front part and rotatably secured thereto, the tube having an upwardly and sidewardly opening slot therethrough rearward of the receiver, the slot extending at an angle to the tube axis, the rear bolt part having a scar pin projecting radially therefrom through the slot, the outer end of the sear pin being adapted to engage the forward end of the launcher grip nut when the pistol grip is engaged in the receiver and the firing pin is pulled back and to release the nut when the trigger is pulled back and the sear rod is thereby cammed to one side by the slot; whereby the launcher is adapted to be fired with one hand. 

1. In combination, a line thrower having a rearwardly projecting pistol grip and a spring biased firing pin therethrough, terminating in an enlarged finger grip nut at the pistol grip end, the nut being adapted to be manually pulled rearwardly and released to fire the launcher; and a shoulder stock and trigger mechanism comprising: an elongated tube having a hand grip projecTing radially downward from the forward end thereof, the tube having a padded shoulder plate secured to the rearward end thereof, a tubular receiver secured in parallel along the top of the tube forward end and adapted to receive the line thrower pistol grip closely therein, a two-part trigger bolt slideable in the tube, a spring biasing the trigger bolt forward, the bolt front part having a trigger projecting radially down from the forward end thereof forward of the hand grip, the bolt rear part being axially aligned with and rotatably secured to the front part, the tube having an upwardly and sidewardly opening slot therethrough rearward of the receiver, the slot extending at an angle to the tube axis, the rear bolt part having a sear pin projecting radially therefrom through the slot, the outer end of the sear pin being adapted to engage the forward end of the launcher grip nut when the pistol grip is engaged in the receiver and the firing pin is pulled back and to release the nut when the trigger is pulled back and the sear rod is thereby cammed to one side by the slot; whereby the launcher is adapted to be fired with one hand.
 2. A shoulder stock attachment for a line thrower, the line thrower having a gun barrel and a breech adapted to hold a blank cartridge to propel a projectile placed telescopically over the muzzle of the barrel, the thrower having a pistol grip extending rearwardly from the breech, a spring biased firing pin extending axially of the pistol grip and terminating in an enlarged finger grip nut at the pistol grip end, and a cannister for a coil of light line whose end is attached to the projectile; the attachment comprising: an elongated tube terminating at one end in a padded shoulder contacting plate and having a hand grip pendant from its other forward end, a tubular receiver secured in parallel along the top of the forward end of the tube adapted to closely receive the pistol grip, a two-part trigger bolt slidable in the tube, a spring in the tube biasing the bolt forward, the bolt front part having a trigger secured thereto pendantly forward of the hand grip, the bolt rear part being axially aligned with the front part and rotatably secured thereto, the tube having an upwardly and sidewardly opening slot therethrough rearward of the receiver, the slot extending at an angle to the tube axis, the rear bolt part having a sear pin projecting radially therefrom through the slot, the outer end of the sear pin being adapted to engage the forward end of the launcher grip nut when the pistol grip is engaged in the receiver and the firing pin is pulled back and to release the nut when the trigger is pulled back and the sear rod is thereby cammed to one side by the slot; whereby the launcher is adapted to be fired with one hand. 